Implement ceasefire in full - UN Security Council

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 16 August 2005, 19:48 GMT]The United Nations Security Council has called on the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers to "fully implement the provisions of the [February 2002] ceasefire agreement." The Security Council members' endorsement of the truce accompanied their condemnation Monday of the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on Friday.

The full text of the Security Council statement, issued by its President for August, Kenzo Oshima of Japan, follows:

"The members of the Security Council learned, with great sadness and a deep sense of loss, of the assassination of Lakshman Kadirgamar, Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka, on 12 August 2005.

"The members of the Security Council express their condolences and sympathy to his family and the people of Sri Lanka.

"The members of the Security Council strongly condemn this senseless act of terrorism. They expect that the case will be speedily investigated and the perpetrators, organizers and their sponsors brought to justice.

"The members of the Security Council call on the parties concerned to implement fully the provisions of the Cease-Fire Agreement and to continue their dialogue, in order to attain sustainable peace and stability in the country."